SITE DETAILS

Lansdowne Crescent Garden (Ladbroke Estate) *

Kensington & Chelsea

Summary

* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens

Part of the Ladbroke Estate, laid out as a planned garden suburb with a coherent layout of concentric crescents and large communal gardens whose features were first suggested in a plan by architect and estate surveyor Thomas Allason in 1823. His scheme was later modified by others, including James Thomson, although Allason remained involved until his death in 1852. Building started in the 1840s; the outer concentric crescents date from the 1860s. During the lull in building development, the land was leased for a time for a racecourse, the Hippodrome, which operated from 1837-41.

The information shown above was correct at the time of the last update 01/10/2007
Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news.

Further Information

Grid ref:

TQ245807

Size in hectares:

0.3203

Green Flag:

Yes

On EH National Register :

Yes

EH grade:

Grade II

Site on EH Heritage at Risk list:

No

Registered common or village green
on Commons Registration Act 1965:

No

Protected under London Squares
Preservation Act 1931:

Yes

Local Authority Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

Fuller information

Ladbroke Estate: Site on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens, for Register Entry see https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list

Lansdowne Crescent Garden is part of the Ladbroke Estate, laid out as a planned garden suburb with a coherent layout of concentric crescents and large communal gardens whose features were first suggested in a plan by architect and estate surveyor Thomas Allason in 1823. His scheme was later modified by others, including James Thomson, although he remained involved until his death in 1852. During the lull in building development, the land was leased for a time for a racecourse, the Hippodrome, built by John Whyte in 1837. The venture floundered, the course proving too heavy going, and it only operated from 1837-41. Building started in the 1840s; the outer concentric crescents date from the 1860s. After Allason's death, artist and designer Thomas Allom was responsible for the next phase of development.

This garden is at the crest of the hill, bounded along its curving west side by semi-detached villas along Lansdowne Crescent, which were built 1844-5, and their private gardens. The Vicarage to St John's Church is in the southern corner of the garden. To the east, the garden is bounded by a tall terrace of houses along Ladbroke Grove of 1841-2, which was originally terminated at each end by houses with large private gardens that have been replaced by C20th blocks of flats, that to the south designed by Maxwell Fry in 1938. There are no private gardens along the east side, which has a raised terrace. The original path layout has been simplified and an additional path created across the centre of the garden. Most of the garden is open but there are roses trained on poles and pergolas.